Mercedes-AMG GT, Jaguar XE, Ferrari CEO Quits: The Week In Reverse

Ferrari’s CEO Luca di Montezemolo resigns his position, the Mercedes-AMG GT was unveiled in Stuttgart, and the Jaguar XE hits the stage in the UK. It’s The Week In Reverse, right here at Motor Authority.

The resignation of Ferrari CEO Luca di Montezemolo comes as no real surprise—rumors of his departure have circulated for months. Reasons postulated for the resignation range from a potential run at political office for di Montezemolo, to a spat over the direction of the company with Fiat Group head Sergio Marchionne. Whatever the cause, it’s clear Ferrari is entering a new era after the end of di Montezemolo’s 23-year tenure.

The Mercedes-AMG GT was unveiled this week in Stuttgart, and it is stunning. Packing a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 engine good for 503 hp and 479 lb-ft in GT S form, the AMG GT is fast, too: it can hit 60 mph in just 3.7 seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 193 mph. AMG has also packed some innovative new performance electronics into the GT S, including a Race mode, and the ability to adjust throttle application based on cornering load. The 2016 Mercedes-AMG GT S arrives in the U.S. in the spring of 2015.

BMW also unveiled a new car this week: the 2-Series Convertible. With its mechanical underpinnings essentially identical to the 2-Series coupe we already know and enjoy, the Convertible’s debut is mostly about design and features. Due for a debut at the 2014 Paris Motor Show, with its first trip to North America at the 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show, the 2015 BMW 2-Series Convertible will go on sale in the U.S. in early 2015.

Jaguar’s XE rounded out a triplet of luxury and performance car releases this week. Like the 2-Series, the XE is familiar in its powertrains, and like the AMG GT, the XE is stunning to look at. Will this combination of punchy power and sultry styling be enough to give the XE a leg up in the hyper-competitive luxury sport sedan segment? With rivals like the Cadillac ATS, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, and BMW 3-Series, the XE surely has its work cut out for it—though at first impression, it certainly seems up to the challenge.

Finally, the Tesla Model S modified by Saleen and known as the FOURSIXTEEN, has taken to the web to show off its all-electric burnout skills. And skills it has indeed. Plus the sound of the car is just…futuristic. The Saleen FOURSIXSTEEN can be yours for just $152,000—about a 50 percent premium over the standard Model S.

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